The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (March 13) temporary service arrangements for O·PARK1. A spokesperson for the EPD said that one of the food waste storage tanks at O·… read more
The Trade and Industry Department (TID) announced today (March 13) that it would implement enhancement measures for the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) and the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a more focused and sustainable manner.
A TID spokesperson said that the Government had been providing a comprehensive suite of support services to SMEs, including funding support and capacity-building services. During the pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery periods, the Government injected a total of $2 billion into the BUD Fund and implemented special measures for the EMF to extend the funding scope to cover exhibitions and online exhibitions targeting the local market, and relax the eligibility criteria to include non-SMEs. The Government also provides “four-in-one” integrated services to strengthen the provision of information to SMEs. In addition, the Government has allocated $100 million to gradually enhance the services of “SME ReachOut” in the ensuing five years starting from 2023 by stepping up support for SMEs to apply for government funding, as well as providing capacity-building services for SMEs. The Government has also assisted SMEs in taking out loans through the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme, and the 2024 Policy Address has announced various enhancement measures such as allowing borrowing enterprises under the Scheme to apply for a principal moratorium for up to 12 months.
The 2024 Policy Address and the 2025-26 Budget have allocated a combined total of $2.5 billion to the funding schemes supporting SMEs to help them cope with the various uncertainties in the global economy. At the same time, the demand for government funding support has surged sharply in recent years. The number of applications for the BUD Fund in 2024 increased by over 320 per cent as compared with that in 2019, and that for the EMF increased by 87 per cent over the same period. Since its inception in 2012, the BUD Fund has approved a total funding amount of $6.2 billion, and about $5.43 billion was approved in the past six years (i.e. 2019-2024). In other words, close to 90 per cent of the funding has been approved in this recent period.
The spokesperson said, “Supporting SMEs remains one of the Government’s important policies, but we are also mindful of the fact that all support measures should be subject to constant review to ensure that they remain effective in the ever-changing economic environment. We should provide necessary support to SMEs in a timely, focused and financially sustainable manner.”
The spokesperson continued, “We will institute enhancement measures to provide more targeted support to SMEs, encourage them to enhance competitiveness and tap into markets outside Hong Kong. Firstly, each applicant enterprise will be able to submit one ‘Easy BUD’ application every three months, instead of every six months at present. Moreover, the funding scope of the ‘Easy BUD’ application will be expanded to include the establishment of online sales platform. Furthermore, to assist enterprises in restructuring their business operations in the face of rising trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, the BUD Fund will also expressly provide for funding support for professional fees associated with the establishment of new business entities in eligible markets.”
To focus its limited resources to equip enterprises for upgrading and transformation, the Government will consolidate the EMF into the BUD Fund upon expiry of the EMF’s special measures on June 30, 2026. Enterprises may undertake promotional activities in the context of upgrading and transformation to attain synergy.
At the same time, to ensure financial sustainability of the funding schemes, the Government will implement measures such that the BUD Fund and the EMF will be utilised in the most productive manner. These will involve adjustments to the funding ceiling, matching ratio, and rationalisation of other parameters of the BUD Fund and the EMF, as detailed at the Annex. These measures will apply with respect to applications received from 0.00am, March 14, 2025, onwards.
The BUD Fund provides funding to encourage non-listed Hong Kong enterprises to develop business in 40 economies with which Hong Kong has signed free trade agreements and/or investment promotion and protection agreements through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and promoting sales. Established in 2001, the EMF aims to encourage SMEs to participate in export marketing activities.
Details of the BUD Fund and the EMF are available at www.bud.hkpc.org/en and emf.tid.gov.hk/en respectively. For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the BUD Fund (Tel: 2788 6088) and the EMF Branch of the TID (Tel: 2398 5127). read more
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has launched a series of activities under the theme “School of Life” to encourage the public to embrace green burials and plan their end-of-life arrangements ahead of time. The campaign features a range of creative activities, including the “Life and Death Expo,” which introduces support resources for old age and after-death arrangements; the Community Tour for Life Education, which encourages participants to reflect on life and death through learning about special attractions in the community; and the Guided Life and Death Exploration Tours for Youth, which deepens life education through hands-on experiences. The FEHD will also launch short videos on an online platform to elaborate on the green burial process and address common misconceptions, thereby helping the public better grasp the relevant information.
In addition, the department has been making continuous efforts to enhance its burial services by upgrading both hardware and software to provide more humane and thoughtful support. The smoke-free Shek Mun Columbarium and Gardens of Remembrance (GoR) is expected to be completed and come into operation within the year, and the outlook design providing free services for scattering ashes at sea by ferry will be enhanced. As green burials gain popularity, the Government will continue to expand related facilities and promote public education on life planning through free talks, guided GoR tours, and immersive community experiences (see appendix for details). These efforts aim to raise public awareness and drive green burials as a mainstream option. Members of the public are encouraged to stay updated on “School of Life” activities by visiting the FEHD’s dedicated webpage.
As the first key activity to kick off this year’s promotion, the FEHD will organise the interactive exhibition “Green Burial, Love Living On” over two consecutive days starting from March 15 at Citywalk 2 in Tsuen Wan, New Territories, with an opening ceremony on March 16. The exhibition features thematic talks, workshops, and family-friendly activities designed to guide the public to explore the meaning of life and understand the value of green burials. There will be a story zone for children on-site, with lively illustrations on the concept of the life cycle. Also, performances by an elderly theatre club will encourage intergenerational participation to face life’s topics together through advance care planning. Visitors can also enjoy a complimentary family photo service, which can open conversations about life and death across all ages. Moreover, the FEHD has invited experts in life and death education, and funeral directors to host a series of talks on topics such as well-being planning and personalised eco-friendly funerals. Information booths will be set up to provide details about green burial options and the Green Burial Central Register. Nearby, a “Life Recipe” will be displayed and distributed at the Yeung Uk Road Market near the exhibition venue, connecting food culture with the “Five Ways of Life” to complement the main event. The public is invited to join. For more details, please visit the thematic webpage: www.greenburial.gov.hk/en/intro/school-of-life.html. read more
The Hong Kong Flower Show 2025 (HKFS) will be held at Victoria Park from tomorrow (March 14) until March 23, running from 9am to 9pm daily. This year’s flower show features cosmos as the theme flower and “Ablaze with Glory” as the main theme.
The vigorous cosmos comes in an array of vibrant colours symbolising tenacity and bliss. This year’s theme flower wall features six bouquets of cosmos models, each ranging in diameter from 1.4 to 2.1 metres. Embedded with colourful orchids and carnations, the flower wall brings exuberance and vitality to the show. The layered design of the theme flower wall, set against the vibrant colours of around 10 000 tulips in front, creates a feast for the eyes.
There will also be meticulously designed landscaped displays along the showground axis with a world tour theme. The Grand Journey across Europe landscape features an English garden, a Dutch windmill, a Greek-style hut, and a French lavender field, while the Wonders of Africa, a parterre of the Jockey Club Mosaiculture Display by Students, features adorable installations made of cut flowers showcasing animals such as a gorilla, a hippopotamus, a camel, and a giraffe. Members of the public can enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas, Mount Kinabalu of Malaysia, Mount Fuji of Japan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and the Supertree Grove in Singapore in the “Travelling around Asia” landscape. Afterwards, visitors can embark on “An Adventure to the Americas” to experience the culture and heritage through installations such as a Maya pyramid, Easter Island statues, and Western cowboys.
To celebrate the upcoming 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, the flower show has specially designed a garden plot entitled “Joyful Vibrancy Around Town”. Featuring five crescent-shaped art installations inspired by sports, the plot is adorned with cosmos of different species and colours, creating a delightful atmosphere. Members of the public can also take photos with the event mascots “Xi Yang Yang” and “Le Rong Rong” in front of a wall banner for the National Games.
Another floral display, “A Gifts of Nature”, resembles a giant gift box filled with mesmerising flowers. As night falls, the gift box is illuminated with soft lights, creating a romantic ambiance. Another highlight is the special plant exhibits displaying rare flowering plants such as purple bells, gold finger plant, blue potato vine, and sandpaper vine (white flower), in addition to a selection of foliage plants from the Marantaceae family.
An exhibition booth displaying artworks by the nonagenarian local artist Fapopo (Flower Granny) is set up in the showground. Fapopo uses everyday household items such as Chinese woks, folding chairs, and plastic basins as her canvas, and her creations are vibrant and colourful with childlike energy. Other attractions include the intriguing “The Giant Teapot in Miniature World” display inside the floral marquee, panda-themed photo-taking spots, and a giant bouncy slide (opening hours: 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays) at the Central Lawn.
The show also showcases a rich profusion of potted plants, floral arrangements, and landscape displays by local, Mainland China, and overseas organisations. Commercial stalls will be set up to sell snacks, beverages, flowers, and horticultural products. A vast range of educational and recreational fringe activities, such as floral arrangement demonstrations, gardening lectures, music, and cultural performances, will be offered for visitors of all ages. This year, busking street performances and floral art demonstrations for home are added to the activities lineup.
A total of 238 organisations, including 81 exhibitors from 11 countries, namely Mainland China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Poland, Malaysia and the United States, will be taking part in the show.
For more details of the flower show and its admission fee arrangements, please visit the event webpage: www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2025/index.html or call the enquiry hotline at 2601 8260.
The HKFS is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has supported the Flower Show since 2013 and has been its major sponsor since 2014.
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Mong Kok today (March 13) in which a man died. At about 2.10pm, a light goods vehicle (LGV) driven by the 44-year-old man was travelling along the… read more